Ethics GAME’S Hot Topics Simulations
Dilemma Descriptions
DILEMMA DESCRIPTIONS BY SETTING
(Note: All cases are set in fictitious organizations,
businesses, and institutions.)
BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT SETTINGS
“A” Dilemmas
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of the
Missing Forms
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
EthicsGame’s simulations provide a practical and repeatable decision
model. By challenging participants to solve real world ethical cases
from multiple ethical perspectives, or lenses, our simulations teach
participants about their own values. Students also consider how the
interests of other stakeholders impact the decision process.
One simulation consists of two dilemmas, an “A” case study and a “B”
case study. The dilemmas are easy to mix and match and can be integrated into a standing syllabus. The only requirement is that each simulation
include one “A” dilemma and one “B” dilemma. You can add a single
simulation to enhance your syllabus or several simulations to reinforce
learning through application.
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
Clinical trials —
ƒƒ Informed consent
ƒƒ Missing data
ƒƒ Torts
Problem:
SENIOR CLINICAL RESEARCHER: You are compiling the reports for a Phase II Clinical Study. A team
member at one of the research sites reports that the informed consent forms have been lost. The informed consent forms are essential if the results are going to be included in the study. Further, if the
forms aren’t kept properly, the FDA (the regulatory agency) can censure the company.
Issue:
How to ensure the integrity of the clinical studies when you have not followed (or cannot show that
you have followed) the required protocols for good research.
1
The Case of the
Slick White Paper
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
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ƒƒ Plagiarism
ƒƒ Research fraud
Problem:
SENIOR SCIENTIST: You have a deadline for a journal publication and have not had time to write
the paper. One opportunity is to work with a ghostwriter. Another opportunity is to collaborate with
a junior researcher who has a paper that covers the same material and is very well organized.
Issue:
How to ensure the deadline is met, the article has integrity, and the author(s) receive appropriate
attribution.
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 1 of 18
March 2012
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
Business and Government Settings
“A” Dilemmas (cont’d.)
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of the
Superficial Statistics
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Use of accurate
statistics in marketing
Problem:
VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES: You are preparing the launch of a new product, a calorie-burning
supplement. To support the launch, the marketing department hired a research firm to conduct an
independent survey. You receive the results from the VP of Marketing ten days before the scheduled
launch, but you soon find out the survey may have been compromised by selection bias and a nonrandom sample. Taking the time to get accurate results would not only delay the launch but would
also likely produce less favorable statistics.
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
Issue:
Whether to rely on the independent survey results to meet the launch window and stay competitive or to delay the launch to ensure your data provides accurate and thorough information
for consumers.
2
The Case of the
Fair Warning
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
ƒƒ
ƒƒ
ƒƒ
ƒƒ
Quality control
Consumer protection
Product liability
Torts
Problem:
QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER: You are responsible for the quality of the company’s products. The
internal testing laboratory has fallen behind schedule and has just delivered the report for a batch of
a patented ingredient used in products already in stores for retail sale. This particular ingredient is
used in 80% of the company’s products. The test results show that the level of a minor contaminant
exceeds the internal quality control standards, although not external standards. The contaminant
poses a small risk of harm to a small percentage of potential users of the products: those with compromised immune systems.
Issue:
Whether to warn and what information to provide to consumers about the contaminant.
2
The Case of the
Mysterious Blogger
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
ƒƒ Non-disclosure
agreements
ƒƒ First Amendment
privacy
ƒƒ At-will employment
Problem:
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: You have put in a new computer security system. Despite the precautions, an unidentified company employee continues to violate the company non-disclosure agreement by posting proprietary information on a private blog. One of your IT employees,
at home and without company authorization, discovers the blogger’s identity by hacking into the
blog site’s ISP and then the blogger’s home computer, and shares the information with you.
Issue:
Whether you should use the information obtained by the hacker to discipline the blogger for
violating the NDA.
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 2 of 18
March 2012
Business and Government Settings
“A” Dilemmas (cont’d.)
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
2
The Case of the
Mysterious Roses
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
Title VII ­—
ƒƒ Sexual harassment
Problem:
DIRECTOR OF SALES: You have received information from several different people about what
may be sexual harassment of one of your direct reports. She has now asked to speak with you
confidentially.
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
2
The Case of the
Underperforming Division
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
Issue:
Whether you can agree to maintain the confidentiality of an employee’s communication with you
when you believe the communication will be a disclosure of sexual harassment.
ƒƒ Embezzlement
ƒƒ Whistleblowing
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
Problem:
INTERNAL AUDIT MANAGER: You are conducting a routine operations audit. You discover that one
division has excessive costs, although they have not produced the same clinical output as the other
divisions. Furthermore, you discover that the Division Director, who approves all expenses, has not
taken a vacation in two years and may be having an affair. Both of these factors can be warning signs
for embezzlement.
Issue:
How to present your audit findings regarding the division, and to whom.
3
The Case of the
Chinese Customs Official
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
ƒƒ Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act
ƒƒ Bribery
Problem:
SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER: You are responsible for the launch of the product in a new market:
China. Although the sales figures look good, there appears to be a problem with the numbers. After
careful analysis, you suspect that some of the product shipped to China is being sold on the black
market by the director of the customs center through which the product is shipped before being
transported to stores and gyms for sale.
Issue:
Whether you can reduce the losses without violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act or reporting
the customs official and risk putting his life in danger.
3
The Case of the
Friendly Audit
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
ƒƒ Independent
judgment
ƒƒ Fraud
ƒƒ Sarbanes-Oxley
Problem:
AUDIT PARTNER: As a senior officer in the CPA firm working with G-BioSport, you have to
determine whether an aggressive mark-to-market valuation of material assets on the company’s
balance sheet is an appropriate valuation. The CFO of G-BioSport is pressuring you to not question
the valuation.
Issue:
How to respond to pressure from the client over an audit issue that can undermine the independence of the client’s annual audit.
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 3 of 18
March 2012
Business and Government Settings
“A” Dilemmas (cont’d.)
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
3
The Case of the
Hot New Market
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
Conflict of interest —
ƒƒ Product placement
ƒƒ Fraud
ƒƒ Insider trading
(Sec. 10b-5)
Problem:
VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND MARKETING: You’ve been talking with a Board member that has
a company that provides training videos and classes for people in the health club industry. He wants
to expand into continuing medical education and has suggested a partnership in which your company provides financing and benefits from product placement in the training materials. You know
that product orders tend to increase following sponsorship of continuing medical education events.
Issue:
How to partner with the Board member to provide continuing medical education: whether to disclose financial support, place or discuss products in training materials, and how to avoid a conflict
of interest.
3
The Case of the
Mangled Miracle Drug
(part 1)
ƒƒ Product safety
ƒƒ International
marketing
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
Problem:
VICE PRESIDENT OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Your company has developed a true miracle drug:
a cure for HIV. However, a recent batch of the drug is badly contaminated, such that up to 10% of
those who take it may suffer another fatal illness as a side effect. You are approached by the Minister
of Health of a small African country willing to buy the contaminated product, with full awareness of
the risks and complete willingness to disclose the side effect, in order to save lives. This sales opportunity may be the only opportunity to ensure the batch is not wasted entirely and the revenue lost.
Issue:
Whether you can ethically sell a product you know will directly result in a high incidence of fatal
side effects at the same time that a greater number of lives can be saved with the sale.
3
The Case of the
Really Sweet Deal
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
Conflict of interest —
ƒƒ Gifts
ƒƒ Sarbanes-Oxley
Problem:
VICE PRESIDENT OF CLINICAL OPERATIONS: You are developing a relationship with a Board
member. The Board member proposes a business partnership with a friend of theirs. The suggestion
is that you explore the opportunity during an entertainment event the friend is sponsoring at which
the Board member will also be present.
Issue:
Whether you can fully evaluate this opportunity without engaging in a conflict of interest.
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 4 of 18
March 2012
Business and Government Settings
“A” Dilemmas (cont’d.)
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
3
The Case of the
Wayward Water
Setting:
Consulting Firm
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Sustainability
ƒƒ Ethics and economics
of hydrofracking
Problem:
STAFF ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF QUALITY: You have been asked to make a recommendation to
the state board responsible for drilling regulations. You are being lobbied by two groups: the companies who want to move ahead with hydraulic fracturing, a process that will contaminate an area of
groundwater, and environmentalists who are concerned about contaminating the groundwater. You
have received a 100-year projection on the effects of these contaminants and, according to the data,
the impact seems minimal. However, the affected area is close enough to a residential area that if
the projection is off, the impact would be substantial.
Issue:
Whether you should trust the projections enough to make the deal or err on the side of caution
at the cost of losing or reducing the money your community would gain from the royalties from
drilling.
BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT SETTINGS
“B” Dilemmas
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of the
Cold Feet
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Whistleblowing
ƒƒ Fraud
Problem:
SENIOR SCIENTIST: You are reviewing a draft of an article written by a colleague that has been
accepted to a prestigious journal. As you read it, you notice that the work includes information
in a white paper written by a junior researcher that you reviewed. The data in the article does not
match the data in the white paper. You poke around and discover that data was omitted that showed
adverse effects to the drug. You also know from your own research that the data in the article cannot
be replicated.
Issue:
What to do when you believe that a colleague has falsified data in a report.
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 5 of 18
March 2012
Business and Government Settings
“B” Dilemmas (cont’d.)
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of the
Disingenuous Report
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Use of accurate
statistics in marketing
Problem:
VP OF MARKETING: You have requested a customer survey to send to a magazine that publishes
consumer reports. When the results come in, you find that one product shows a much shorter list of
customer responses than the others. The responses that remain paint a very good picture of the product, but you receive information that the report is materially flawed because the negative feedback
has been removed. Reconstructing the data is impossible, but you might lose the marketing opportunity for all your porducts if you don’t have a complete report to submit.
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
Issue:
Whether to include the anomalous results or move ahead without them.
1
2
The Case of the
Fudged Results
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
ƒƒ Adverse results on
clinical trials
ƒƒ Integrity of research
ƒƒ FDA regulations
Problem:
SENIOR CLINICAL RESEARCHER: You note that one of your research sites is getting negative results
in a small sample of their test subjects, all of whom are Norwegian males. You have not kept data on
the racial heritage of test subjects who put down “white” as their racial heritage.
The Case of the
Great Off-Site
Title VII —
ƒƒ Sexual harassment
Problem:
DIRECTOR OF SALES: Following a company off-site function, two employees have informed you
that one of your direct reports behaved inappropriately at the function and that they were offended
and distressed by this behavior. Before you have a chance to do anything, the offending employee
himself sends a company-wide e-mail apologizing for his behavior.
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
Issue:
Whether to include the anomalous results or move ahead without them.
Issue:
Whether you have authority to discipline the offending employee for behavior not on company
premises. If you do have authority, then how to appropriately reprimand the offending employee.
2
The Case of the
Stringent Standards
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
ƒƒ Product liability
ƒƒ International safety
standards
Problem:
QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER: You have noticed that the level of contaminant in a patented
ingredient used in 80% of the company’s products has increased, while external standards have become stricter. The level of contaminant now exceeds the legal limit for sale in the company’s home
country. However, several foreign markets in which the product could be sold either have a lower
standard, which the contaminant does not exceed, or no regulations regarding the legal amount of
the contaminant. The contaminant still poses a very limited risk of harm to a small percentage of
potential users.
Issue:
Whether to sell a product that does not meet home country safety requirements in a foreign market
that has lower safety restrictions.
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 6 of 18
March 2012
Business and Government Settings
“B” Dilemmas (cont’d.)
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
2
The Case of the
Unsatisfactory Response
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Financial statement
fraud
ƒƒ SEC violations
Problem:
INTERNAL AUDIT MANAGER: Your job includes regular audits of the company’s financial statements. In the process of one such audit, you have questions about numbers that don’t seem quite
right. You follow up with the accountant who made the entries, assuming there is a valid explanation
and supporting documentation. However, you are told simply that a “high level executive” authorized the entries. You know that something very similar happened in two infamous fraud cases.
Issue:
Whether to pursue supporting documentation for the mysterious accounting entries.
2
The Case of the
Veiled ID
Title VII —
ƒƒ Religious expression
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
Problem:
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: Following a break-in by a former employee, you implemented a key-card system that includes a picture ID. One of your employees is a Muslim who wears
a veil that covers her entire face. Her religious tradition prohibits any male except a close relative
from seeing her face unveiled. Both the photographer and some security guards who would check
the IDs are male.
Issue:
How to balance the need to maintain appropriate security for all employees while acknowledging
the religious expression of a particular employee.
3
The Case of the
Canadian Labels
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
ƒƒ Integrity in
international sales
Problem:
SENIOR PRODUCT MANAGER: Your marketing team has come up with what they think is a brilliant idea: to market one of their products sold in Canada with the label “China Free.” This idea is
designed to gain market shares in the new Canadian market quickly by playing on rising consumer
fears following a barrage of media reports on deaths from contaminated food and drug products with
ingredients from China. To complicate matters, some of your product may soon contain ingredients
from China, although they do not at the moment.
Issue:
Whether it is possible to address consumer fears by providing safety information without violating
labeling regulations and without unfairly targeting one group of suppliers.
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 7 of 18
March 2012
Business and Government Settings
“B” Dilemmas (cont’d.)
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
3
The Case of the
Clever Pitch
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Capital formation
ƒƒ Board relations
ƒƒ SEC and SOX
Problem:
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER: You are putting together a proposal for funding from a key venture
capital firm. If successful, you’ll raise $32 million to complete testing and market a promising new
product. Your team has data and projections to paint an enticing picture for potential investors.
However, you are aware of potential problems with the research results. You are also aware that your
sales projections include off-label sales, although your sales team can’t directly promote off-label
use of prescription drugs.
Issue:
Whether to include all the information you have in the proposal to the venture capitalists.
3
The Case of the
Competing Suitors
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
ƒƒ Non-disclosure/
non-compete clauses
ƒƒ Contracts
Problem:
VICE PRESIDENT OF CLINICAL OPERATIONS: Your team has just completed clinical testing using a
Clinical Research Organization (CRO) as a partner. Both of you anticipate expanding the partnership
for a new product. You know the CRO is in the process of making capital expenditures in anticipation of expanding the partnership. Suddenly, a CRO you courted unsuccessfully in the past wants to
partner for the new product. It appears they may be a better fit for this product.
Issue:
Whether you can develop both business opportunities simultaneously with integrity.
3
The Case of the
Concealed Contaminant
Setting:
Department of
Environmental Quality
ƒƒ Sustainability
ƒƒ Economics of
hydrofracking
ƒƒ Trade secrets
Problem:
STAFF ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF QUALITY: You have been asked to make a recommendation to
the board responsible for drilling regulations. The companies intend to use a proprietary mixture
for hydraulic fracturing that is comprised on 98% water and sand with the remaining 2% consisting
of a particular mix of chemicals. You can ask for a list of the chemicals used, as well as their exact
proportions, which would allow accurate research on the environmental impact, but doing so would
require the oil companies to reveal proprietary information. They argue that if they are unable to
protect their trade secrets, the motivation for research to maintain a competitive edge is gone, and
thus safer and more effective formulas will never be developed.
Issue:
How to balance between protecting a company’s trade secrets and the public’s right to information
that will help assure the water source is not contaminated.
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 8 of 18
March 2012
Business and Government Settings
“B” Dilemmas (cont’d.)
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
3
The Case of the
Contaminated Air
Setting:
Bio-Tech Firm
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Environmental laws
ƒƒ Sustainability
ƒƒ International
partnerships
ƒƒ Customer confidence
Problem:
VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS: On a routine visit to the plant in India that is supplying ingredients for your products, you discover that toxins contaminate the air in and around the plant. When
you ask, you are informed that the processes meet or exceed local environmental regulations for
safety but they do violate USA environmental standards. To clean up the process would be pricey; to
not clean up the water could severely damage your company’s reputation and brand.
Issue:
Whether to insist that your supplier institute practices to guarantee that the local water supply will
not be contaminated.
3
The Case of the
Mangled Miracle Drug
(part 2)
Setting:
Small African Country
ƒƒ International sales
ƒƒ Public health
Problem:
MINISTER OF HEALTH: You have made a deal to purchase a batch of a drug that treats HIV, a drug
that will be a great boon to the people of your country. This particular batch is contaminated and
will cause potentially fatal side effects to 10% of those who take it, but you knew the risks when
you made the deal. Now, a neighboring country has made an offer to buy the drug from you, which
would provide a significant profit and an opportunity to purchase an untainted batch. The president
of this country faces U. N. sanctions for war crimes and his money comes from conflict diamonds,
but his people suffer under an AIDS epidemic comparable to the one in your country.
Issue:
How to meet your agreements under your original contract while exercising prudential judgment to
maximize resources available to your people.
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
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­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 9 of 18
March 2012
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
HEALTH CARE SETTINGS
“A” Dilemmas
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of the
Uninformed Consent
Setting:
Neighborhood
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Informed consent
ƒƒ Scope of practice
when not in a clinical
setting
Problem:
NURSE/NEIGHBOR: Lara, the daughter of your neighbor, Susan, has just informed you that her
Mom is scheduled for open heart surgery. Lara reveals that Susan doesn’t know how serious the
procedure will be nor that she will be out of commission for 4 to 6 weeks. Lara convinced the physician that if Susan knew the truth she might not have the surgery, so Susan thinks the surgery will be
something like her angioplasty. Lara is asking you to not disclose anything to Susan and for Susan’s
own good to participate in the conspiracy of uninformed consent.
Issue:
How to insure your neighbor gets the information she needs before going into surgery while meeting
your obligations as a friend to both Lara and Susan.
1
The Case of the
Wandering Eyes
ƒƒ HIPAA
ƒƒ Privacy
Setting:
Medical Center
2
The Case of the
Bound Hands
Problem:
STAFF NURSE: As a newly graduated RN, you see a colleague, a senior nurse, who is reading the
chart of a patient who is not part of her case load. The patient happens to be a bit of a local celebrity, and everyone is curious about why she is in the medical center.
Issue:
How best to handle this violation of hospital policy.
ƒƒ Unauthorized use
of restraints
Setting:
Medical Center
Problem:
SUPERVISING NURSE: An elderly patient is repeatedly pulling out his gastric feeding tube. At least
an hour is required to replace the tube. The patient has a history of dementia due to cerebral atherosclerosis. The family has left for the evening and is very much against the use of restraints. You rush
into the room just as he starts to pull out the tube, and you can’t sit with him all night. You do not
have an order for mittens, but they are available. Calling the MD is out of the question because it is
the night shift. If you don’t restrain the patient, the tube will be out before the 4 a.m. meds.
Issue:
How to balance your case load and meet the needs of this patient.
2
The Case of the
Front Page Faux Pas
Setting:
Medical Center
ƒƒ HIPAA
ƒƒ Privacy
Problem:
MANAGER OF CLINICAL RECORDS: The hospital is treating Bernard Low, a candidate for Senate.
The PR department sent an authorized statement to the local newspaper, but the article that appears
the next day contains information beyond the scope of that statement — information that could only
have come from a HIPAA breach in the records department. You track the breach back to a member
of your staff, and you file a report with the Privacy Officer. Later, you find evidence, although not
conclusive, that suggests the breach was deliberate.
Issue:
What you should do with the additional information you now have.
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
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­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 10 of 18
March 2012
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
Health Care Settings
“A” Dilemmas cont’d.
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
2
The Case of the
Troubled Teen
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Emancipation
ƒƒ Care for minors
Problem:
SUPERVISING NURSE/OB-GYN: Rachel, an unwed minor, has been admitted to the hospital
in labor. Her parents are with her, but as her labor fails to progress, they refuse to authorize standard
medical intervention. Their refusal appears to be based on their religious beliefs and their disappointment that Rachel has gotten herself into this situation. The nurse assigned to Rachel has complied with the parents’ wishes and seems inattentive. The attending OB/GYN is in the delivery room
with another patient. Although the baby is not yet in fetal distress, the situation seems to
be worsening.
Setting:
Medical Center
Issue:
How best to assure that the mother and baby receive the appropriate medial care.
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
HEALTH CARE SETTINGS
“B” Dilemmas
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of the
Bandage Bandit
Setting:
Medical Center
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Theft
Problem:
CHARGE NURSE: A well-respected certified nursing tech has been seen removing supplies from the
supply room that are not needed for her patients. When confronted, she breaks down and says they
are for her mother, who is recovering from a recent operation and doesn’t have enough money to
buy the large abdominal dressings she needs.
Issue:
How best to handle this violation of hospital policy.
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 11 of 18
March 2012
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
Health Care Settings
“B” Dilemmas cont’d.
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of
Policies and Politics
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Policies re: domestic
partners
Problem:
STAFF NURSE: Domestic partners Alain and Yves were traveling outside their home state when
Alain suffered a stroke and was admitted to your hospital. The ER staff treated Yves as they would the
heterosexual spouse of a patient, but now that Alain has been moved to ICU, the supervising nurse
has prevented Yves from having contact with him. You know that the hospital has a fairly liberal visitation policy, but that it is not always followed by all staff. You have the ability to assure Yves access
to Alain under the radar or to challenge the supervising nurse’s action.
Setting:
Medical Center
Issue:
How best to intervene when you believe that a supervisor is not following the hospital’s policies.
2
The Case of the
Confounded Colleague
ƒƒ Erratic behavior of
employee
Setting:
Medical Center
2
The Case of the
Outdated Database
Setting:
Medical Center
Problem:
CHARGE NURSE: During a shift report, you notice that one of your staff nurses is behaving unusually. You can’t put your finger on exactly what is going on. He doesn’t have an odor of alcohol about
him, but as you watch his interactions, he is just not himself.
Issue:
How to respond to a subordinate whose capacity might be impaired.
ƒƒ HIPAA
ƒƒ Allocation of
resources
Problem:
MANAGER OF CLINICAL RECORDS: The investigation of a previous breach of a patient’s protected
health information has revealed significant unauthorized access to patient records from a closed
clinical trial. You suspect this is evidence of serious data security issues that will result in further
breaches if left unaddressed. This is your area of expertise, but the changes would require the approval of the Privacy Officer, who does not share your concerns.
Issue:
What to do when you believe a superior is not addressing a significant compliance risk.
2
The Case of the
Shady Secret
Setting:
Community Health Center
ƒƒ Chronic illness
ƒƒ Underserved
populations
ƒƒ Charting
Problem:
CLINIC NURSE: A young Type 1 diabetic came to the clinic for an insulin pump check-up. The
young man presented to you with alcohol on his breath. In reviewing his chart, you saw that he was
not supposed to have any alcohol. When you talked with him, he begged you not to tell anyone
because he didn’t want to get in trouble. Will you participate in keeping his shady secret?
Issue:
How to make sure that your patient gets the care he needs while giving him the autonomy to make
his own health-care decisions.
© Ethics GAME
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Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 12 of 18
March 2012
EDUCATION SETTINGS —
Elementary/High School
“A” Dilemmas
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of the
Complicated Classroom
Setting:
High School
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Individual
Educational Plans
(IEPs)
ƒƒ Special needs mainstreaming
Problem:
HIGH SCHOOL CLASSROOM TEACHER: You have a class with many students requiring customized teaching. As a result of staffing reductions, the IEPs for the students are not complete. One
student has cerebral palsy, no IEP is written, and his parents are demanding a high level of attention
for their child.
Issue:
How to balance between meeting the educational needs of the special needs student and the rest of
the students in the classroom.
1
The Case of the
Tainted Test
ƒƒ Integrity of testing
protocols
Setting:
Elementary School
Problem:
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM TEACHER: You are administering an end of the year reading test for
a colleague. A student tests at a lower proficiency than expected. The student’s classroom teacher
wants you to retest the student and provide a little bit of help. You know that if you don’t cooperate,
the colleague might retaliate by skewing the test results of your students.
Issue:
Whether to accommodate the request for retesting or refuse.
EDUCATION SETTINGS —
Elementary/High School
“B” Dilemmas
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of the
Pushy Parents
Setting:
Elementary School
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Meeting needs of
students in light of
parental pressure
Problem:
ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM TEACHER: A student is not living up to her potential in the classroom.
You meet with the parents and discover she is in many extra-curricular activities. The parents are
clear that they expect her grades to stay up even as she maintains the rest of the schedule. When you
grade her according to her performance, the parents go to last year’s teacher and the administrators.
Your colleague gives you the heads up that this family is starting to shake the trees and advises you
to “make it right” with the family.
Issue:
Whether to grade according to parental pressure or student performance.
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­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 13 of 18
March 2012
Education Settings — Elementary/High School
“B” Dilemmas cont’d.
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of the
Sophomoric Sophomore
Setting:
High School
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ School discipline
ƒƒ Appropriate evaluation of disruptive
student
Problem:
HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER: Lindsay, a sophomore in one of your classes, has been nothing but
trouble. She rarely attempts to participate or complete assignments, instead devoting her time to
distracting and disrupting her fellow students at every opportunity. You have tried every intervention,
but her behavior remains unchanged. As the school year draws to a close, the principal informs yu
that you are the only teacher available for the sophomore and junior classes for your course and
that failing sophomores will be enrolled in the junior class in addition to retaking the sophomore
class. A colleague approaches you with an idea: to avoid having Lindsay in two classes per day next
year, you could give her a passing grade, which would spare your new sophomores — and a small
measure of your own sanity.
Issue:
How to assure that the student is treated fairly at the same time you assure that the other students
have an inviting learning environment.
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 14 of 18
March 2012
EDUCATION SETTINGS —
University Student Life
“A” Dilemmas
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of the
Electronic Exam
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Cheating
Problem:
STUDENT: Some of your classmates, who are part of a group that you’d like to join, are going on a
road trip rather than taking an exam that the professor has decided to give using new “clicker” technology. As the professor is giving the students the questions in advance, your friends decide to write
down their answers in advance and have others in the class use the clickers assigned to their student
IDs to answer for them.
Setting:
University
Issue:
Whether arranging for someone else to use your clicker is cheating.
1
The Case of the
Friend in Need
ƒƒ Domestic Violence
Setting:
University
1
The Case of the
Purloined Paper
Issue:
Whether what you just witnessed is domestic violence.
Plagiarism —
ƒƒ Classroom
Setting:
University
2
The Case of the
Party Animals
Setting:
University Dormitory
Problem:
STUDENT: Following class on your way to the parking lot, you are the only witness to an argument
between a fellow student and their significant other. You can’t hear what is going on, but you see
yelling and shoving, and witness one slap the other across the face.
Problem:
STUDENT: You have been sharing a laptop with your classmate, Mark. A mutual friend and classmate of Mark’s tells you about a paper Mark submitted for their joint class that sounds identical to a
paper you wrote using Mark’s laptop.
Issue:
Whether what Mark did is actually plagiarism. If so, what to do about it.
ƒƒ Whistleblowing
ƒƒ Alcohol
Problem:
RESIDENT ASSISTANT: Your friend, Kim, is planning a party at which you suspect there will be underage drinking. Your suspicion is based on your knowledge of two people Kim routinely hangs out
with, Dale and Victor, who have been previously written up for alcohol violations a parties. Kim
tells you that Dale and Victor want to have the party in your room because it’s larger and you don’t
have a roommate.
Issue:
How to do your job as an RA while maintaining your friendship with Kim.
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 15 of 18
March 2012
EDUCATION SETTINGS —
University Student Life
“B” Dilemmas
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of the
Big Presentation
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
Plagiarism —
ƒƒ Internet
Problem:
STUDENT: You are a sophomore member of a business management class working on a multi-media presentation for your final exam. You’ve included some pictures your study partner found on the
internet that look like photographs of your college campus. Your study partner suggests you might
get a higher grade if the professor thinks you took the pictures specifically for the presentation.
Setting:
University
Issue:
Whether allowing the professor to think the pictures are your own is the same as presenting someone else’s work or ideas as your own.
1
The Case of the
Nightly Guest
ƒƒ Dorm life
Setting:
University Dormitory
Problem:
STUDENT: You are a college freshman living in a dorm. Your roommate constantly has an overnight
“guest” in your shared dorm room. After you began to struggle with your homework as a result of
having to sleep elsewhere so often, you finally had a talk with your roommate, who agreed the
practice would end. However, just a few days later, the night before a big exam, you receive a text
message from your roommate asking you to sleep elsewhere again.
Issue:
Whether you need to finally report your roommate’s constant violation of the “no overnight guests”
policy.
2
The Case of the
Open Bottle
Setting:
University Dormitory
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
ƒƒ Guests
ƒƒ Alcohol
Problem:
RESIDENT ASSISTANT: Your friend Lori’s significant other, Patrick, is passed out drunk in the common room of the dorm where you are the RA and Lori is a resident. Patrick is under the legal drinking age and does not attend the university.
Issue:
How to respond to Patrick’s behavior as an RA, given that Lori is a friend.
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 16 of 18
March 2012
EDUCATION SETTINGS —
University Athletic Life
“A” Dilemmas
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of the
Accidental Witness
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Domestic Violence
Problem:
STUDENT: After a team party, on your way to the parking lot, you are the only witness to an argument between a fellow student and their significant other. You can’t hear what is going on, but you
see yelling and shoving, and witness one slap the other across the face.
Setting:
University Athletic
Department
1
The Case of the
Smashed Superstar
Issue:
Whether what you just witnessed is domestic violence.
ƒƒ Alcohol
Setting:
University Athletic
Department
Problem:
STUDENT: While on a competition road trip, you are assigned to room with one of the team stars,
Sydney. Upon returning from a team meeting Sydney skipped, claiming to be fighting an illness, you
discover Sydney passed out with an empty bottle of alcohol nearby. You know Sydney has been reported at least once before for an alcohol violation and a further incident could result in suspension
from the team and from school. The code of conduct requires students to report when they are in the
“knowing presence” of an alcohol violation.
Issue:
Whether to report your teammate for the alcohol violation.
EDUCATION SETTINGS —
University Athletic Life
“B” Dilemmas
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
1
The Case of the
Secret Ingredient
Setting:
University Athletic
Department
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Banned substances
Problem:
STUDENT: You are a successful student athlete. In order to manage the workload of athletics and
academics, a friend has given you a natural herbal supplement for increased energy. Shortly before
an intramural competition at which it is likely the team members will be tested for illegal substances, you discover that the supplement ingredient’s source is ephedra, which is banned for use
in competition.
Issue:
Whether you should self-disclose your inadvertent use of a banned substance.
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 17 of 18
March 2012
Education Settings — University Athletic Life
“B” Dilemmas cont’d.
LEVEL DILEMMA NAME
2
The Case of the
Open Bottle
Setting:
University Dormitory
© Ethics GAME
All Rights Reserved
Level 1: Individual contributor
Level 2: Managerial role
Level 3: Leadership/policy role
TOPIC/LAW
DESCRIPTION
ƒƒ Guests
ƒƒ Alcohol
Problem:
RESIDENT ASSISTANT: Your friend Lori’s significant other, Patrick, is passed out drunk in the common room of the dorm where you are the RA and Lori is a resident. Patrick is under the legal drinking age and does not attend the university.
Issue:
How to respond to Patrick’s behavior as an RA, given that Lori is a friend.
Slick —
­­ Hot Topics Simulations
page 18 of 18
March 2012